tell me about Roehl.

I just started with Roehl 2 weeks ago...in fact, I am currently at home between trainers. While with my first trainer we never waited more than 2 hrs after getting empty for our next load assignment, and that included one time in Dallas, which everyone knows is a nightmare to find freight out of. I haven't been here long enough to tell you anything else, although from talking with my trainer it seems like I got on with a good company. Orientation was good and they didn't screw anybody around. They only sent 2 guys home from my orientation group and that's because they had absolutely no clue how to drive.

 

My last trip out I talked to two different trainers that came into the Pilot a few hours after I did in Albany, GA. They both told me they were keeping the trainers running of course as usual while I sat. Both of them left in a couple of hours of getting there with a load and new dispatch in hand while I sat there for another day waiting on something and I was empty sitting there way before they were. Got to make it look good to the students I guess.

Before that I was sitting in Miami for two days waiting on a load, went to a customer Roehl has in West Palm Beach after finally getting a dispatch and the load was already picked up. This had been happening alot lately. Sat another day in W. Palm Beach to get that 400 mile load to Albany, GA.

Every week has been like that for me in the past month and a half with Roehl and was starting to get behind in bills getting anywhere from a $200 - $400 paycheck every week after taxes, insurance, etc. came out and being away from home. Thank goodness I lucked into a local job 2 miles down the road from my home when I came home for time off! Good hourly rate M-F all daytime work! Was worried my family wasn't gonna have much of a Christmas this year sitting in truck stops for Roehl waiting on work, but now that's not going to be an issue!!! Whooppeee!!!

Good luck with your training, I had two good trainers. I hope freight picks up when you get into your own truck...maybe you'll get a newer one with an APU. I got an International with 365k on it and it had too much mileage on it to get an APU while I kept meeting other guys fresh out of training with shiny newer Freightliners decked out with APU's and inverters. My truck spent alot of time in the shop at Gary too. The guy that had it before me didn't take care of it at all.

Good luck again and best wishes for you at Roehl. Hopefully they will start working on the bad planning, etc. and you're results with the company will be better than mine was.

 

I've had my own truck with them for two months and I'm running every day. Averaging 2,200 or so but I'm just starting out, but they haven't put me through any serious hills, or anything like that.

They treat me very well. Whenever there's a problem, there's somebody to help out. Things go wrong plenty often but that's trucking. Company's basically the way the recruiter said it was.

Oh, and get yourself a good phone and a GPS - the directions can be sketchy and that's the most frequent complaint I've heard at the terminals.

And isn't there already a Roehl thread?

 

I'm on hometime plus and just finished a day early because there is no freight. When the banks stopped extending credit freight dried up real fast. Just before that I was doing pretty good then all this about the credit crisis hit and next thing I knew not only was I sitting but everyone else I talked to was also. Most of what I carry is paper products and household cleaners so I would imagine I will see the miles come back as soon as things loosen up a bit. People always need t.p.

 

It was nice of you to send those wishes to this and every other Roehl driver. They as well as other OTR drivers are going to need it.

Drive safe

 

How about the drop in diesel prices? has that helped at all? or is it just a little extra money in the Corp's pockets?

 

If you are a company driver the fuel prices won't affect you very much. Mainly with speed reduction that drops your maximum miles per day and pressure to reduce idle time.

 

Heard a trucking association PSA on the radio the other day, they said even with diesel prices down companies have to play "catch up" for six months to a year to come back to where they were before fuel spiked. As for Roehl I start on Monday with my fingers crossed. Worked there before and they were great to work with. Maybe slow miles will weed out some drivers and give whoever is left more work.

 

This "weed" had to leave because of it, but new ones will grow back in my place...LoL! They keep the trucks as full as possible even if freight is slow. Roehl doesn't pay anyone to sit at a truck stop or terminal while they "look" for something for you to do. Glad I'm gone!

 

JWinC,

Good luck to you. Have been following your posts....I believe we got involved in this site about the same time. Used to live just up the Blue Ridge from you in Blowing Rock. I graduate in 3 weeks....lots of decisions to make.

Take care,
K